State Coordinator Drug Court Survey

Survey of Statewide and Territorial Drug Court Coordinators
Practices and Policies Relating to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use
Disorders in Adult Drug Courts
Please provide your contact information:
State or Territory:
Name:
Title:
Phone:
Email:
The following questions pertain to adult drug courts in your state or territory. This may include hybrid
adult drug courts that, for example, also serve persons charged with DWI or those with co-occurring
disorders. It does not include stand-alone DWI courts, juvenile drug courts, family drug courts, veteran’s
treatment courts, mental health courts, or other types of treatment courts.
Responses will be reported in the aggregate and will not be attributed to any individual state or
territory.
1. How many adult drug courts are there in your state or territory? ______
2. During the most recent 12 months, please rank-order the five (5) substances used most frequently by
participants prior to entering your state or territory’s adult drug courts (with 1 being the most
frequent):
___I am unsure of the five substances most frequently used by participants in my state’s drug
courts.
___ Alcohol
___ Marijuana
___ Pharmaceutical opioids (e.g., Oxycodone, Vicodin, codeine)
___ Heroin or other nonpharmaceutical opiates (e.g., opium)
___ Fentanyl (including carfentanyl)
___ Cocaine
___ Crack cocaine
___ Pharmaceutical sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines, barbiturates)
___ Pharmaceutical stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall)
___ Methamphetamine (e.g., “ice” or “crystal”)
___ Synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., K2, Spice)
___ Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms)
___ PCP (phencyclidine, Angel Dust)
___ Club drugs (e.g., MDMA, GHB)
___ Inhalants (e.g., model glue, aerosols)

___ Dextromethorphan (cough syrup)
___ Other drugs (please describe) __________________________________________________
3. Is this answer based on:
____ Actual statewide or territorial data
____ An informed estimate (e.g., based on individual program evaluations or data)
____ Anecdotal information (e.g., reports or impressions of program coordinators)
4. During the past 12 months, approximately what percentage of adult drug court participants in your
state or territory had a moderate to severe opioid use disorder? ____%.
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
5. Is this answer based on:
____ Actual statewide or territorial data
____ An informed estimate (e.g., based on individual program evaluations or data)
____ Anecdotal information (e.g., reports or impressions of program coordinators)
6. Among your adult drug court participants with an opioid use disorder, what is the primary type of
opioid problem seen?
___ This information is not available
___ Pharmaceutical opioids based on a legal prescription
___ Pharmaceutical opioids without a prescription
___ Illicit opioids (e.g., heroin, fentanyl, carfentanyl)
7. During the past 12 months, has there been a substantial change in the prevalence of opioid use
among adult drug court participants in your state or territory? (please check all that apply)
____ This information is not available
____ Use of pharmaceutical opioids has increased
____ Use of pharmaceutical opioids has decreased
____ No apparent change in use of pharmaceutical opioids
____ Use of illicit opioids has increased
____ Use of illicit opioids has decreased
____ No apparent change in use of illicit opioids

8. Approximately what proportion of adult drug courts in your state or territory offer some form of
medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for participants with an opioid use disorder?
___ Unknown or Unable to answer

___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all

Commented [DJAE1]: Can you ask for a percentage? The
way it reads is that you are giving them the options of 0, 25,
50, 75, 100%

9. Does your state or territory have policies governing the use of MAT in adult drug courts?
____ Yes
____ No (skip to question 12)
____ Our state or territory is in the process of developing uniform policies governing the use of
MAT in adult drug courts (skip to question 12)
____ Don’t know (skip to question 12)
10. If yes, please respond to each policy listed:

Yes

No

D/K

MAT is permitted only in limited cases, such as for the treatment of
pregnant women
All adult drug courts are required to receive formal training on MAT for
opioid use disorders
All adult drug courts are required to evaluate participants with opioid use
disorders for their suitability for MAT
Adult drug courts are required to permit participants to continue MAT
previously prescribed for opioid use disorder
Adult drug courts are permitted to begin MAT for new participants who
have an opioid use disorder
Adult drug courts are required to permit the use of naltrexone (e.g., Revia,
Depade, Vivitrol) but not other medications such as buprenorphine or
methadone
Adult drug courts are prohibited from admitting participants receiving
buprenorphine or methadone
Adult drug courts require participants to taper or cease use of
buprenorphine or methadone before graduating
11. If your state or territory has uniform policies governing the use of MAT in adult drug courts,
approximately how long ago were they enacted or most recently revised or updated?
___ Within the past year
___ In the past 1-2 years
___ 3 or more years ago
___ Unknown or unable to answer
12. If MAT is available for participants in your state or territory’s adult drug courts, approximately
what proportion of adult drug courts include the following medications in their treatment
regimens?
___ Not applicable; MAT is not available in our state or territory (please skip to question 19)
Methadone

Commented [EO2R1]: Percentages are now listed in
parentheses for these options.
Commented [DJAE3R1]: Thanks
Commented [EO4]: Original ONDCP Comment: Should
this be – if response to above answer is No, then……..
Perhaps these first two options should precede the table, as
changed…
Commented [EO5R4]: Agree. Options have been
adjusted to reflect this suggestion.
Commented [DJAE6R4]: Thanks

Commented [EO7]: Original ONDCP Comment: Find the
wording a bit confusing. Can you clarify what this statement
is trying to capture? Is if for participants who after receiving
a legal prescription for an opioid then become addicted? Or
is it that judges were making people quit MAT to participate
in drug courts? If that is the case, will this rewording work?
Commented [EO8R7]: We have broken the statement
into two components to clarify: One for those clients that
come into drug courts already on MAT and one for those
who newlt receive MAT once they enter the court.
Commented [DJAE9R7]: Thanks
Commented [EO10]: We are referring to all naltrexone,
not just previously prescribed.

Commented [DJAE11]: Would the respondent skip to
question 13? See comments for question 13 & 15.
Commented [EO12R11]: Respondents will now skip to
question 19
Commented [DJAE13R11]: Thanks

___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Naltrexone (e.g., ReVia, Depade, Vivitrol)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
13. Approximately what proportion of adult drug courts in your state or territory have blanket
policies or practices prohibiting use of the following medications by participants?
Methadone
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Naltrexone (e.g., ReVia, Depade, Vivitrol)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)

___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
14. We would like to know which medications are being used in drug courts to treat opioid use
disorder. In the past 12 months, approximately what proportion of adult drug court
participants with an opioid use disorder received the following medications in your state or
territory?
Methadone
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Naltrexone (e.g., ReVia, Depade, Vivitrol)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
15. Is this answer based on:
___ Actual statewide or territorial data
___ An informed estimate (e.g., based on individual program evaluations or data)
___ Anecdotal information (e.g., reports or impressions of program coordinators)
16. Approximately what proportion of adult drug courts in your state or territory require
participants to discontinue use of the following medications as a condition of graduating from
the program?
Methadone
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)

Commented [DJAE14]: Recommend adding preface for
respondent to understand the nature of the question.
Commented [EO15R14]: This language applies to the
entire survey, not just this one item. How about we put this
language in the survey introduction?
Commented [DJAE16R14]: Yes – that sound good.

___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Naltrexone (e.g., ReVia, Depade, Vivitrol)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
17. In the past 12 months, approximately what proportion of adult drug court participants with an
opioid use disorder graduated from the program while still receiving the following medications?
Methadone
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Naltrexone (e.g., ReVia, Depade, Vivitrol)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all

18. Is this answer based on:
___ Actual statewide or territorial data
___ An informed estimate (e.g., based on individual program evaluations or data)
___ Anecdotal information (e.g., reports or impressions of program coordinators)
19. Approximately what proportion of adult drug courts in your state or territory only allow use of
the following medications for pregnant women?
Methadone
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
Buprenorphine (e.g., Suboxone, Subutex, Zubsolv)
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
20. Approximately what proportion of your state or territory’s adult drug courts have naloxone
(Narcan, EVISIO) available onsite for participants experiencing an overdose?
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
21. Approximately what proportion of your state or territory’s adult drug courts provide training to
their participants on how to use naloxone (Narcan, EISIO) to reverse an overdose?
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
22. Approximately what proportion of your state or territory’s adult drug courts provide naloxone
kits to participants in their program?
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None

___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
23. Is your state or territory considering expanding availability of MAT for opioid use disorders in
adult drug courts?
___ Not applicable; MAT is already used in all adult drug courts
___ Not considering expansion
___ Undecided on expansion– ( For more information on MAT - perhaps add link to pocket
guides)
___ Definitely considering expansion
24. To what extent do the views or opinions of personnel working in your adult drug courts hinder
utilization of MAT?
___ Not at all
___ Slightly
___ Moderately
___ Greatly
25. To what extent do the views or opinions of external policy makers or administrators hinder
utilization of MAT in your adult drug courts?
___ Not at all
___ Slightly
___ Moderately
___ Greatly
26. Please rank-order the top three (3) barriers that interfere with the use of MAT, or certain types
of medications such as buprenorphine or methadone, in your state or territory’s adult drug
courts (with 1 being the most influential barrier):
____ Not applicable; MAT is offered in all drug courts
____ Refusal or disinterest from participants
____ Philosophy of local treatment providers
____ Insufficient funding
____ Insufficient pool of qualified MAT providers
____ Lack of knowledge of or familiarity with MAT by drug court staff
____ Prohibitions from external (outside the drug court) policy makers or administrators
____ Insufficient resources to prevent misuse or diversion (e.g., pill counts, observed ingestion)
____ Insufficient access to training or technical assistance on MAT
____ Use of other substances by participants that may interact dangerously with methadone or
buprenorphine (e.g., benzodiazepines, alcohol)
____Other (please describe): ______________________________________________________

Commented [EO17]: We need to keep outside
information separate from the survey. We also don’t want
to direct respondents away from the survey. We can send
respondents the link to the pocket guides in the thank you
email they will receive once they complete the survey.
Commented [DJAE18R17]: Makes sense from a
researcher’s perspective. Obviously, hadn’t considered.
Thanks.

27. In the last 10 years, has your state or territory been subject to civil judgments or administrative
penalties related to the delivery of MAT for treatment of opioid use disorder in the criminal
justice system?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Unknown or unable to answer
____ Other – Please describe:______________________________________________________
28. If yes, please describe:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
29. Is your state or territory currently involved in pending or ongoing litigation related to the
delivery or non-delivery of MAT for the treatment of opioid use disorders?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Unknown or unable to answer
If yes, please describe:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
30. In the past five years, have there been any funding mandates or mechanisms in your state or
territory to expand the use of MAT in drug courts?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Unknown or unable to answer
31. If yes, please describe:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
32. In the past five years, have there been any changes in your state or territorial certification
procedures for MAT providers?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Unknown or unable to answer
33. If yes, please describe:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

34. Approximately what proportion of adult drug courts in your state or territory received training
to implement or improve delivery of MAT to participants?
___ Unknown or Unable to answer
___ Very few or None
___ Some (about 25%)
___ About half
___ Most (about 75%)
___ All or nearly all
35. Please briefly describe any MAT training received by your state or territory’s adult drug courts:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
36. If applicable, did this training help to expand the use of MAT or affect MAT practices in your
state or territory’s adult drug courts?
___ Not applicable; no MAT training was received
___ No
___ A little
___ Moderately
___ Largely
___ Unknown or unable to answer
37. Please briefly explain:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________